G20 leaders target trillions in new economic growth

BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) – G20 leaders representing the bulk of the world’s economy on Sunday committed to reform measures to lift their collective growth by an extra 2.1 per cent by 2018, despite evidence of a slowdown in some major nations.

The pledge – known as the Brisbane Action Plan – will push their combined growth beyond the two per cent they were initially targeting in the drive to rehabilitate sluggish global economies and generate jobs.

“This will add more than $2 trillion to the global economy and create millions of jobs,” leaders including US President Barack Obama and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping said in a summit declaration after weekend talks in Australia.

The communique also agreed to a global initiative to help address a $70 trillion gap in infrastructure needed by 2030 to improve productivity, by cutting red tape and matching private investment with capital projects.

A hub to coordinate the G20’s work on infrastructure by bringing together governments, the private sector, multinational development banks and other international organisations will be headquartered in Sydney.

The world’s most powerful industrial economies also backed a global crackdown on tax avoidance by multinational companies.

“The benefits of that growth will be felt worldwide, not just in G20 member nations,” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the G20 host, said of the 2.1 per cent target.

US President Barack Obama, centre, with European leaders during their meeting at G20 Summit to discuss transatlantic trade and the situation in Ukraine, Nov 16 in Brisbane, Australia. With Obama are from left to right, Spain’s President Mariano Rajoy, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, France’s President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy – AFP

“The Brisbane Action Plan and individual country growth strategies and employment plans have been made public so people around the world can see our commitments, hold us to account and witness our progress.”

On Saturday in Brisbane, President Barack Obama said the United States cannot “carry the world economy” and that other G20 nations must do more to spur growth and create jobs.

Buoyed by unemployment at its lowest level since July 2008, the US economy is motoring at a time when other parts of the global engine room, notably Europe and Japan, are starting to splutter.

“So here in Brisbane the G20 has a responsibility to act, to boost demand and invest more in infrastructure and create good jobs for the people of all our nations,” said the US president.

Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey said moving even further beyond the two per cent target would be possible if EU leaders start pumping billions of dollars into the stalling eurozone economy, where Germany and France have only narrowly escaped recession.

New European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has previously outlined a reform agenda, including a 300 billion euro investment package to boost growth, employment and competitiveness. Exact details have yet to be presented.

In a report ahead of the G20 summit, the International Monetary Fund said the world economy faced stiff headwinds from sluggish growth in Europe and Japan and a slowdown in emerging economies.

It trimmed its global growth forecast for the year to 3.3 per cent, from 3.4 per cent, citing geopolitical tensions and volatility in financial markets.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde said the G20 this year had been “very productive”.

“Decisive policy action by all is key to making growth strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive, and to create needed jobs,” she said in a statement after the Brisbane summit.

“I strongly welcome the determination of G20 members to implement growth strategies that we calculate would lift their collective GDP by at least 2.1 per cent by 2018.”